Midnight Giggles

It's 12:36am early on Wednesday morning.

The house is still and quiet except for the clicking of the keyboard as I program, the slight buzz of the ceiling fans, restful breathing of loved ones dreaming, and the hum of the sole compact fluorescent light bulb which illuminates the room in which I work.

Occasionally the ice in my drink shifts and clinks against the tumbler's wall almost as if cheering me on, saying "hang in there just another hour before you call it a night..." in its sleepy voice. My glass of Diet Dr. Pepper sweats onto my notepad which holds the shadows of my workday.

The screen is blurry - yet I forge ahead only to take a short break to write this humble blog post. I am thankful for everything in life which God allows me to experience for it is through experience that we knock another rough edge off of this human vessel in which we temporarily reside.

The dog moves in the light shadows beside me, hearing the unheard. She walks a few steps before stretching out on the floor facing the nursery where our youngest slumbers in fanny-raised comfort. I stop typing for a moment and strain to hear what momentarily peeked the interest of our beloved dog.

Softly at first she cries "Dahhhhhhhhhh" from the nursery. I pause and listen and there it is louder and a little quicker - "Daaaaaaaah Daaaaaaaah". My heart races to hear my baby call for me.

"Daaaaaaahhhhhhhhhwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaaaaa" She sighs.

The light buzzes loudly and I blink a few times. It is not for her father that the young toddler cries. I realize that she she is calling for her best friend, Dora The Explorer. Deflated, I slump in my chair, defeated by a cartoon character in my daughter's eyes.

When we are down, if we are perceptive, God talks to us. I wait for a few seconds, listening for His words of wisdom faintly carried to my ears on angel's breath. It arrives through the laughter of my youngest child as she sleeps in her crib.

Nothing much in life's experience can top the midnight giggles of a sleeping baby.

I now have enough energy to make it another hour into the night, programming key stroke by key stroke.

Giggle on, baby princess. Daddy loves you.

Out Of My Shell

Last night I shaved my goatee off. I had worn this badge of hipness since the late 90s. My wife and kids have never seen me without either that or a full beard during the winter. I asked all of them if I should do it and everyone agreed that if they didn't like me sans facial hair, that I would grow it back and never do it again. Emma and Chloe really didn't know what "shaving it off" meant and Lydia was out out of the room turning circles and giggling to herself.

So I took out the dog clippers (yeah that's how I roll) and asked everyone if they were sure and then proceeded to give my face a good garage sale type cleaning. The looks on my daughters' faces was absolutely priceless. Half in amazement at what I was doing, and the other half in great curiosity at this funny looking creature emerging from behind the goatee.

"Daddy why you erasing your face?" Asked Chloe.

I just laughed and said "Daddy's just giving his face a hair cut."

That seemed to make it clear that I wasn't hurting myself and she climbed up on the garden tub next to the sink and just looked on in wonder. When I was through with the clippers she smiled at me in the mirror and said "you look funny." Emma agreed by shaking her head and giggling in her cute bubbly chuckle. Lydia was still spinning and babbling outside the door of the bathroom.

I lathered up and started shaving as the girls told me about their day. When I finished, Chloe touched my face and said "smooooooooooooooooooooooooooothe Dah Dah" and then jumped down and ran off.

We'll see if it stays off for good or comes back this Fall when the leaves begin to drop and this old Earth starts to hibernate for the winter.

Star Wars - Episode 4

This morning Emma and I were exchanging typical father and daughter banter. There were lots of "you look pretty"'s and "you're a sweet girl"'s from my side of the conversation and a lot of precious "I know Daddy"'s from her side.

"Now remember you can't go crawling around in the gravel at school today." I said.

"I know Daddy." She replied. "But it's ok when we play Star Wars..."

"Well didn't mommy say for you to not play so rough since your killing your shoes about every 2 weeks it seems?" I asked.

"Yeah.... But remember Star Wars?" She asked.

"Yes I do - I saw it in the theater. " I said "However, what does Star Wars have to do with gravel on the playground at School?"

"Wellllllllllllllllll. You See. There was Julia and myself and we play Star Wars -" She said.

"Do you even know what Star Wars is?" I interrupted.

"Duh." she smiled. "It's a movie silly Daddy. Julia plays like she's Princess Leia and I'm a kitty cat and kitty cats crawl on the ground."

I stood there totally speechless as she pirouetted across the floor. Dance little girl. Dance!

Not Available In Stores

Tonight was taco night - complete with tater tots. For some reason that is a long-standing tradition in our family. I can't remember when it started, but if you cook tacos, there better be tater tots in the oven.

As I stood there browing the meat, the girls and their momma were talking about Mother's Day and what Mommy wanted for her special day.

Somehow the conversation swung in my direction.

"Daddy, what do you want for Mother's Day?" They asked.

"Well I guess just for you all to be on your best behavior all day long on that day!" I said with enthusiasm.

[[ crickets ]]

"Uh Daddy they don't have that in the store." Chloe said.

I have been pwned by a not yet four year old.

Rainy Sunday

Quiet.
Not for Long!
All women but one asleep.
Smallest one on her tummy -
chin resting on big Dora
doll, holding smaller Dora
doll, wearing Backpack on
her head - watching Dora on TV
twisting her single red pony tail.
Rainy Sundays are great for relaxing.
Daddy works on, watching the rain gather
in muddy puddles.